If you’re out and about in Finnish nature during late September throughout most of October, you might witness ruska. That’s a Finnish word for autumn colored foliage. In many places over the world, ruska puts up quite the show.

But due to the long, dark winter in Finland, ruska really is last call for enjoying nature. Unless you like stumbling around in the cold and dark. Which is totally okay, we’re not judging.

In any case, we went scouting Flickr’s community for some ruska goodness. This writer also pillaged his own archive if Instagram snapshots, for your enjoyment. So, whether you prefer the great outdoors in urban streetscapes or out in the middle of nowhere, we hope we can remind you to at least enjoy a few more strolls outside before the long grey dark sets in.

1. If you’re in luck puddles or lakes might remind you to look up at the trees.

20. And before you know it, you’ll just forget to enjoy your everyday surroundings. Moving outdoors becomes a tiresome chore, one which requires preparation.

21. Sure, those August and September sunsets are quite something.

22. They almost make you appreciate the looming darkness.

23. But by early November, a handful of pretty sunsets are among the few outposts of sanity you’ll have left. In Helsinki, you’ll miss the show if you don’t leave work between 4 and 5 pm. Farther up north, any typical office gig will leave you out of daylight.

34. This is the kind of nature sightings I like in fall: old NYC style taxis with campaign stickers for Dick Nixon.

35. Anyway, time to head out before everything looks like this.

Thomas Nybergh is a writer and producer for Ink Tank Media in Helsinki. He’s really into topics like information security, but he writes about anything. Occasionally, Thomas gets around to sharing photos on Instagram.

Helsinki experienced massive growth after it became Finland’s capital in 1812. As the new economic and cultural center, its population exploded, architecture grew quickly, and technology flourished. But what did it look like? Let’s take a stroll through 19th century Helsinki, courtesy of the Helsinki City Museum’s vast database of photos from the late 1800s.

When Finnish summer weather disappoints, there’s always pictures and the internet. We were contacted by young photographer Markus Watkins, whom we interviewed earlier this year, about his fun collection of summery activities shot taken in winter landscapes.

Markus wanted to share another set of his with our readers. Since the sky is grey at the time of writing, we can’t think of a single reason why we should turn down this set.

When Finnish summer weather disappoints, there’s always pictures and the internet. We were contacted by young photographer Markus Watkins, whom we interviewed earlier this year, about his fun collection of summery activities shot in winter landscapes.

Markus wanted to share another set of his with our readers. Since the sky is grey at the time of writing, we can’t think of a single reason why we should turn down this set.

Over-eager nationalism is hardly known for its great outcomes. So, it’s hardly surprising that some of the world’s sharpest minds have had less than flattering things to say about provincialism, flag waving and fanatic patriotism.

Let’s take a look at their wise words.

“It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.”

— Voltaire

“Patriotism is, fundamentally, a conviction that a particular country is the best in the world because you were born in it….”

“Every miserable fool who has nothing at all of which he can be proud, adopts as a last resource pride in the nation to which he belongs; he is ready and happy to defend all its faults and follies tooth and nail, thus reimbursing himself for his own inferiority.”

— Arthur Schopenhauer

“Madness is something rare in individuals — but in groups, parties, peoples, and ages, it is the rule.”

“Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious”

“Nationalism is an infantile thing. It is the measles of mankind.”

“People who enjoy waving flags don’t deserve to have one”

“National boundaries are not evident when we view the Earth from space. Fanatical ethnic or religious or national chauvinisms are a little difficult to maintain when we see our planet as a fragile blue crescent fading to become an inconspicuous point of light against the bastion and citadel of the stars.”

— Carl Sagan

“National identity is the last bastion of the dispossessed. But the meaning of identity is now based on hatred, on hatred for those who are not the same.”

Over-eager nationalism is hardly known for its great outcomes. So, it’s hardly surprising that some of the world’s sharpest minds have had less than flattering things to say about provincialism, flag waving and fanatic patriotism.

Let’s have a look below.

“It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.”

— Voltaire

“Patriotism is, fundamentally, a conviction that a particular country is the best in the world because you were born in it….”

“Every miserable fool who has nothing at all of which he can be proud, adopts as a last resource pride in the nation to which he belongs; he is ready and happy to defend all its faults and follies tooth and nail, thus reimbursing himself for his own inferiority.”

— Arthur Schopenhauer

“Madness is something rare in individuals — but in groups, parties, peoples, and ages, it is the rule.”

“Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious”

“Nationalism is an infantile thing. It is the measles of mankind.”

“People who enjoy waving flags don’t deserve to have one”

“National boundaries are not evident when we view the Earth from space. Fanatical ethnic or religious or national chauvinisms are a little difficult to maintain when we see our planet as a fragile blue crescent fading to become an inconspicuous point of light against the bastion and citadel of the stars.”

— Carl Sagan

“National identity is the last bastion of the dispossessed. But the meaning of identity is now based on hatred, on hatred for those who are not the same.”

Due to long winters and rainy summers, it’s not unusual for someone with the warm, yet reserved Finnish mentality to spend a lot of time being annoyed about things. If you sit down and listen to Finns you’ll probably come across more than a few pet peeves.

To help you prepare, we’ve collected a list of common gripes. If you’re hanging out with Finns, you could do worse than to make bingo cards with these.

1. The weather

What’s there to like about Finnish weather, most of the time? It keeps you from enjoying the gorgeous surroundings.

5. Wolves

6. Themselves

Let’s face it: if most people suck, you probably suck. A popular source of communal self-loathing (‘myötähäpeä‘) is the English language. Finnish, as fascinating as it is, is a weird affair, and Finnish speakers tend to default to a slightly quirky pronunciation of Finnish. Despite great passive language skills and vocabulary, thanks to subtitled tv, Finns tend to think they’re the only ones who default to speaking English with a distinct accent.

7. Sobriety

This is one of those cases where young people these are way saner than even gen X:ers. However, you can still run into situations in Finland where people consider you a buzzkill if you don’t drink. In some circles, even vegans aren’t as annoying as non-drinkers. Doesn’t matter if you’ve discovered that you tend to ruin your life if you touch alcohol, you’ll find out who your true friends are after you decide it’s time to dry up.

8. Neighbors

The typical Finnish agricultural landscape of disparate homesteads, rather than villages, is due to a relatively recent land reform. However, many Finns remember their roots in these landscapes and have taken to heart an attitude of Finns just being unable to bear too many people. This makes the idealized version of Finnish life a bizarre version of suburbia, highways and strip malls in the wilderness.

9. Politicians

If you’re popular for some reason, for example through some general purpose celebrity, don’t make the mistake of turning to politics. People will loathe you and move on to idealizing the police and military.

10. Being successful

The law of Jante has to be one of the most dreadful properties of small Nordic societies – don’t think you’re special or better than us. Or rather, don’t make us think you think you’re better than us. If you have ambitions, leave for whatever passes as cities in Finland.

Now, here’s the thing: if you’re a Finn, our list probably left out some vital object of your annoyance and hate. To tell us just how much you loathe us for missing these important facts, let your rage flow into the comment section below.

A few years ago, Mr. Valtteri Mulkahainen of Sotkamo hit the news in Finland and globally, as his pictures of “dancing” bear cubs in the Suomussalmi forests captured the imagination of nature friendly people everywhere. We wanted to feature Valtteri in our series on Finnish photography, so we’ve caught up with him in a short interview on wolves, using camera gear in the extreme, iPhone killing cold… and Pokémon Go.

1. How did you create an interest for photography and was nature always the main subject?

“About 7-8 years ago, I graduated from training biathletics and I had a lot of free time in the summer, while on vacation. I found in the closet a small camera and started taking pictures of nature. That kickstarted my passion for photography. Although I am quite proficient in photographing of wild animals, I usually prefer nature shots. Right, I really love photographing in taiga centers, such as the Martinselkonen wildlife center.”

2. How do your cameras hold up with Finnish winter conditions?

“This depends on the camera. I shoot with the Canon 5D Mark II. The most severe frost at which I’ve used it was -35 C. The manual says that taking photos is not recommended below -25. Normally, I keep the in a bag, into which I always put it back right after shooting. When I return home, I also try to be careful about letting my equipment slowly acclimate to the inside heat to avoid condensation.”

3. Your most famous photos feature bears, but a few years ago, you stated an interest in wolves too. How did that develop and do you have any advice for people interested in photographing wild animals, safety related or otherwise?

“I haven’t managed to take a pictures of wolves. I went several times, right to the center of the taiga. The wolf a very cautious animal, catching one on camera remains on my to-do list.

Wild animals are afraid of people and have the good sense to avoid coming close to humans or settlements. That’s why I really recommend to anyone interested to come over and visit Finnish taiga centers to photograph wildlife. These centers can provide instruction on how to take pictures of animals. Photography usually happens in small, designated shelters in the forest, so it’s safe.”

4. Your previous interviews say you’re a gym/PE teacher by trade. Do you have thoughts on or any experience with using hobbies like photography or gadget trends like Pokemon go to get young people to move around more in their surroundings?

“I work as a teacher of physical education and health at a school in the village of Sotkamo. I think the use of gadgets and games like Pokémon in schools is an interesting idea. Any young person who’d get excited about moving around in the wilderness could very easily find out information about wild animals and learn more about them and their habitats, diets etc.”

A few years ago, Mr. Valtteri Mulkahainen of Sotkamo hit the news in Finland and globally, as his pictures of “dancing” bear cubs in the Suomussalmi forests captured the imagination of nature friendly people everywhere. We wanted to feature Valtteri in our series on Finnish photography, so we’ve caught up with him in a short interview on wolves, using camera gear in the extreme, iPhone killing cold… and Pokémon Go.

1. How did you create an interest for photography and was nature always the main subject?

“About 7-8 years ago, I graduated from training biathletics and I had a lot of free time in the summer, while on vacation. I found in the closet a small camera and started taking pictures of nature. That kickstarted my passion for photography. Although I am quite proficient in photographing of wild animals, I usually prefer nature shots. Right, I really love photographing in taiga centers, such as the Martinselkonen wildlife center.”

2. How do your cameras hold up with Finnish winter conditions?

“This depends on the camera. I shoot with the Canon 5D Mark II. The most severe frost at which I’ve used it was -35 C. The manual says that taking photos is not recommended below -25. Normally, I keep the in a bag, into which I always put it back right after shooting. When I return home, I also try to be careful about letting my equipment slowly acclimate to the inside heat to avoid condensation.”

3. Your most famous photos feature bears, but a few years ago, you stated an interest in wolves too. How did that develop and do you have any advice for people interested in photographing wild animals, safety related or otherwise?

“I haven’t managed to take a pictures of wolves. I went several times, right to the center of the taiga. The wolf a very cautious animal, catching one on camera remains on my to-do list.

Wild animals are afraid of people and have the good sense to avoid coming close to humans or settlements. That’s why I really recommend to anyone interested to come over and visit Finnish taiga centers to photograph wildlife. These centers can provide instruction on how to take pictures of animals. Photography usually happens in small, designated shelters in the forest, so it’s safe.”

4. Your previous interviews say you’re a gym/PE teacher by trade. Do you have thoughts on or any experience with using hobbies like photography or gadget trends like Pokemon go to get young people to move around more in their surroundings?

“I work as a teacher of physical education and health at a school in the village of Sotkamo. I think the use of gadgets and games like Pokémon in schools is an interesting idea. Any young person who’d get excited about moving around in the wilderness could very easily find out information about wild animals and learn more about them and their habitats, diets etc.”

Jani Ylinampa works as a safari guide in Lapland. But on the side, he’s a photographer who’s developed quite the following on social media, in part thanks to his stunning shots of northern lights. We saw it fitting to feature Jani’s work and ask him a couple of question on his work and lifestyle.

1. How did you develop an interest for photography and when did careful documentation of northern lights become a part of it?

“I started photographing casually about 15 years ago, I took a camera with me when I was hiking in the northern Lapland and northern Norway. Since then I have gradually widened my perspective about photographing and I got my first DSLR in 2009. I shot my first northern lights photo in 2012, when I saw the lights from my balcony and decided trying to take a photo. Until that moment I had been a bit lazy to learn more about photography, and for a while my method was a bit of learning by doing mistakes (forgetting to set the focus to infinity etc.). At first I was just photographing the northern lights, didn’t really worry about anything else. Nowadays I try to find something interesting also on the foreground.”

2. You work as a guide in the far north. What are your best tips for surviving kaamos, the period during which the sun doesn’t rise?

“Eat well (and vitamins), sleep enough (it should be easy to sleep, in the summer it might be a quite another matter ), go outdoors (if the sun is not out there, the moon and the northern lights might be), interact with people.”

3. What kind of gear do you use?

Canon EOS 6D

Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8

Canon EF 28mm f/1.8

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

Canon EF 90-300mm f/4.5-5.6

Samyang 14mm f/2.8

Samyang 8mm T3.8

Sony A7S

Sigma 19mm f/2.8 DN Art

DJI Phantom 2 & GoPro Hero 4 Black

For more of Hani Ylinampa’s faboulous photography, you can follow him where you like to enjoy photography